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Residents urge investigation of 99 Farm Road permits, council postpones employee‑immigration ordinance
Summary
Multiple residents told the council that plans for 99 Farm Road show detainee rooms, weapons storage and reinforced walls inconsistent with the site's USD zoning; the council postponed an ordinance limiting employee involvement in immigration enforcement to April 13 for further work.
Dozens of residents raised alarms at the March 23 Bangor City Council meeting about a commercial lease and building plans for 99 Farm Road, saying the blueprints and lease language appear to show detention features that conflict with the property’s Urban Service District zoning.
“It's a bait and switch,” Andrea Makov, a Bangor resident, told the council. She said the lease lists a federal tenant but the architectural drawings include a detainee room, one‑way observation windows, dedicated weapon storage and structural walls to secure handcuff bars. Makov urged the council to “seriously review” zoning compliance and the permit record.
Other speakers at the podium called for immediate action. Katie Coe asked code enforcement and the city manager to push back against converting spaces near child care and university facilities into detention use. Neil Erickson, who said he traveled from Hancock to speak, reminded the council that detention facilities are not permitted in the USD zone and called for halting permit approvals and reviewing the landlord’s compliance with zoning rules.
Patrick, a resident of the Bangor Historic District, cited national reporting and alleged human rights concerns in detention facilities and urged city action: “We are morally obliged to do everything in our power to prevent human rights violations from taking place in our city,” he said.
The concerns about 99 Farm Road also framed debate over ordinance 26‑095, an item that would establish limits on city employee participation in federal immigration enforcement. Councilors said the government operations committee had raised legal concerns and recommended staff begin complying with an expected state law effective July 2026 and draft written procedures. Councilor Beck said she planned to offer amendments.
Councilors voted to postpone ordinance 26‑095 until April 13 to allow the proposed amendments and a legal review (roll call recorded five yes, four no). Several councilors and speakers said they would press code enforcement and city staff to examine the 99 Farm Road permits and confirm whether the planned use complies with zoning and building rules.
Why it matters: Residents’ allegations raise potential zoning and permitting issues and public‑safety concerns when federal tenants and detention‑style features are alleged at a property near child care and university facilities. The council’s postponement of ordinance 26‑095 keeps the matter open and directs time for amendments and legal clarification.
Next steps: Councilors indicated they will direct staff and code enforcement to review the 99 Farm Road permits and zoning status, and the council will revisit ordinance 26‑095 on April 13 with proposed amendments.
